The Economy

British Producer Prices Soar

May 12, 2008

Highest rate since 1986

The cost of goods leaving British factories jumped in April to a record high on the back of rising costs for raw materials, official data showed on May 12.

Producer prices rose 1.4% in April from March, Britain's Office for National Statistics said. They increased by 7.5% in April compared with 12 months earlier, it added. Both the monthly and the annual rate of output price growth were the highest since records began in 1986.

The data easily beat market expectations for a monthly gain of 0.6% and an annual reading of 6.4%.

The increase reflected higher costs for manufacturing, tobacco, alcohol and petrol products, the ONS said.

About the Author

Agence France-Presse

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2002-2024. AFP text, photos, graphics and logos shall not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP shall not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP content, or for any actions taken in consequence.